Against Hitler's Luftwaffe in the Balkans

For Yugoslavia, the Second World War started on 6 April 1941 with Hitler's attack on the country. Despite the odds, the Yugoslavs fought gallantly in the defence of their homeland, with fighters taking on the German and Italian bombers and their escort fighters, including the Axis types in service with the RYAF. Eventually, due to the deteriorating situation on the front and the ever- increasing risk of the king and his government being captured, the decision was taken to evacuate by air to Greece. In the summer of the 1941 some 220 Yugoslav aviators gathered in Egypt and continued the fight against Axis, this time in the colours of the RAF. This is the full story of their service and combats in the early months of that year.